The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru has assured the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) of the Nigerian Army (NA) continuous support in the execution of its projects and programs.
Director Army Public Relations, Brig.Gen Muhammed Yerima in a statement on Thursday said COAS gave the assurance when President DEPOWA, Barrister (Mrs) Victoria Irabor led other members of the association on a courtesy visit to the COAS at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
The COAS commended the leadership of DEPOWA for championing initiatives that are geared towards ameliorating the problems that bothered healthy living and improved living standards of military personnel.
He further added that the programs have direct benefits on military families and the general public, adding that the NA would not relent in supporting the laudable humanitarian projects of the association.
The COAS also used the medium to appreciate members of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA), and Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) for the humanitarian services they have been rendering to humanity.
Earlier in her remarks, the President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Victoria Irabor maintained that the association has evolved to become an organization focused on providing support to wives of personnel and their families towards achieving a healthy military community.
She further stated that this is in line with her pet project tagged "Uniting Our Voices First", adding that DEPOWA is seeking the collaboration of the NA to provide solutions that will adequately address the causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) faced by personnel.
Mrs. Irabor asserted that military personnel has over the years suffered physical injuries, depression, and emotional trauma accumulated from experiences in the theatres of operations, pointing out that traits such as nightmares, anxiety, and outbursts of anger are usually triggered in response to trauma and are indicators of PTSD.
The DEPOWA President used the medium to intimate the COAS on her proposal to establish a PTSD Evaluation and Rehabilitation Centre to evaluate, counsel, and provide adequate support to personnel and their spouses before reintegration at the end of their operational tour of duty from the various theatres of operations.
She was accompanied on the visit by the National President NAOWA, Mrs. Fati Attahiru, National President NOWA, Hajiya Aisha Gambo, and the National President, NAFOWA, Mrs. Elizabeth Amao among others. Also present at the event were Principal Staff Officers and Directors from Army Headquarters.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of souvenirs, signing of visitors’ book and a group photograph.
